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Cluj-Napoca – a brief overview

The gateway to northern Transylvania, with its dramatic mountains and vampire legends, Cluj-Napoca served as the Transylvanian capital several times during the expansion and contraction of the Austro-Hungarian empire. It’s an atmospheric place, with graceful medieval buildings and some excellent museums dotted around the historic centre.

It also has some of Transylvania’s best nightlife, fuelled by a young and energetic student population. Spend some time in the city’s cafés and bars and you’ll discover that there’s always something interesting going on in Cluj-Napoca, particularly during the Transylvania International Film Festival every May.

Top 10 sights in Cluj-Napoca

St Michael’s Church

Piața Unirii Cluj-Napoca Romania Tel: +40 264 592 089 Show on map

Opening times: Daily 1000-1900

Founded in the 14th century, the Gothic church of St Michael is one of the largest in Transylvania. The original church was constructed shortly after Cluj-Napoca was established, but the building expanded over the centuries and the lofty tower, which offers stunning views over the city, was added in 1859.

Muzeul de Arta (National Art Museum)

Set in the handsome baroque Banffy Palace, the National Art Museum displays an impressive collection of local artworks, tracing the development of Romanian art through the centuries. The collection also includes works from across Europe and a 16th-century church altar.

National History Museum of Transylvania

The city’s history museum displays an eclectic collection of antiquities, from Egyptian mummies to weapons from the ancient Dacian civilisation, the original inhabitants of Romania. Temporary exhibitions are being held until the main galleries reopen after an extensive renovation.

Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania

This child-friendly museum is devoted to traditional life in Romania, with displays of old tools, kitchen implements, weapons, handicrafts and toys. The museum also runs the open-air Ethnographic Park on the outskirts of the city, with a collection of traditional buildings, accessible by bus from the centre.

Piața Unirii

Piața Unirii 400098 Cluj-Napoca Romania Show on map

The main square in Cluj-Napoca is dotted with historic landmarks, from the towering spire of St Michael’s Church to crumbling Roman ruins and a famous statue of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, who was born in Cluj-Napoca in 1443.

Fortress Hill

The Fortress Hill, or Dealul Cetatuia, offers stunning views over the city. The hill is crowned by the Belvedere Hotel and an enormous crucifix, and dotted around the summit are remnants of the Austrian fortress that guarded the city during the Austro-Hungarian era.

Alexandru Borza Botanical Garden

Set amid campus buildings in the university quarter, the city botanical gardens were laid out in 1930, and the spot has been a favourite retreat for locals ever since. Scattered around the gardens are Asian-style pavilions and Roman relics from the ancient city of Napoca.

Házsongárd Cemetery

Strada Matei Basarab Cluj-Napoca Romania Show on map

The city cemetery is lined with the elegant mausoleums of great citizens of Cluj-Napoca, including several Romanian national heroes. In use since the 17th century, it’s an atmospheric place to wander and escape the city bustle.

Pharmaceutical Museum

The Hintz House, the former mansion of the wealthy Hintz family, was the location of the city’s first pharmacy, which opened to the public in 1573. Today, the house contains a fascinating Pharmaceutical Museum, with tours of the ancient medical tools and apothecary jars led by a white-coated pharmacist.

Hoia Baciu Forest

Allegedly the world’s most haunted forest, this area of woodland beyond the Ethnographic Park has supposedly seen everything from ghosts to UFOs. Many report strange noises in the forest and the bizarrely shaped trees certainly create a spooky atmosphere.

Flight and accommodation

Country information

Country overview

There aren’t many countries in Europe where farmers still drive horse-drawn wagons and covered markets dominate over shopping malls, but then Romania isn’t quite like other places. While other Eastern Bloc members have seen their cities spruced up and populated with boutique hotels, international restaurants and

quaint attractions, this traditional country still clings to its dog-eared charm. Yes, you’ll find the usual smattering of resort towns clustered around the Black Sea Coast, but outside the tourism hotspots Romania dances to the same rhythm it’s tapped out for a hundred years.

Geography

Romania is bordered to the north and east by Moldova and Ukraine, the southeast by the Black Sea, the south by Bulgaria, the southwest by Serbia and in the west by Hungary. The country is divided into four geographical areas. Transylvania (a belt of Alpine massifs and forests) and Moldavia compose the northern half of the country, which is divided down the middle by the north-south strip of the Carpathian Mountains. These comprise of 14 mountain ranges above 2,000m (6,560ft) with Moldoveanu Peak at 2,544m (8,300ft) the highest point. The terrain around here is a mix of extinct volcanic cones, lunar plains, thick forests and glacial lakes – perfect for hiking, cycling and adrenaline sports.

South of the east-west line of the Carpathians lies the flat Danube plain of Wallachia with the capital Bucharest, its border with Bulgaria being defined by the course of the Danube. The Danube Delta, the best-preserved of its kind in Europe and a haven for wildlife, is a biosphere reserve and a biodiversity World Heritage Site. Romania’s other major rivers include the Olt, the Siret and the Mures.

Romania’s coastline runs for nearly 200 km (120 miles) along the Black Sea, incorporating the port of Constanta and the Danube Delta.

General knowledge

Key facts

Population: 21790479

Population Density (per sq km): 91

Capital: Bucharest.

Language

Romanian is the official language. Some Hungarian and German are spoken in border areas, while French and English are spoken by those connected with the tourist industry.

Currency

New Leu (RON; symbol (plural) Lei) = 100 bani. Notes are in denominations of Lei500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Bani50, 10, 5 and 1. (Old notes were in denominations of Lei1,000,000, 500,000, 100,000, 50,000 and 10,000 and coins in denominations of Lei5,000, 1,000, 500 and 100.)

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin type.

General business opening hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Public holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2018 – December 2019 period.

Flight and accommodation

Calendar of events

Transilvania Rally

Daring drivers speed, bounce and spin on gravel and asphalt in a testing course starting from Cluj-Napoca and racing round the neighbouring countryside. Thousands of fans gather at the roadside to cheer them on as they battle to gain control of the race.

Transilvania International Film Festival

Romania’s first international feature film festival has been entertaining cinema lovers since 2002 and now attracts around 60,000 film fans to almost 400 screenings. It’s a terrific chance to catch new Romanian releases, take part in lively workshops and seminars, or mingle with the glitterati.

Très Court International Film Festival

There’s no time to snooze during the movies at this nanofest, as each film is no more than three minutes long. Billing itself as ‘an event without borders’, the films are screened simultaneously in nearly 100 cities in over 20 countries.

Delahoya

Inspired by Berlin’s Love Parade, Delahoya kicked off in 1997 and is Romania’s oldest electronic music festival. Live artists and DJs perform and spin house, drum ‘n’ bass and techno beats, keeping festival goers on their toes into the early hours.

Jazz in the Park

Launched in summer 2013, Jazz in the Park’s inaugural event saw crowds pouring into the park armed with picnics and blankets for a packed day of live jazz, folk, blues and classical music. The festival proved a hit and looks set to remain a favourite fixture on Cluj-Napoca’s summer calendar.

Photo Romania Festival

Every year, amateurs and pros land on Cluj-Napoca for 10 days of cutting-edge exhibitions, intense debates, creative workshops and photography competitions. Visitors might hear insights into sports photojournalism, pick up new Photoshop tips or attend a gala concert or fashion show.

Comedy Cluj International Film Festival

Belly chuckles are guaranteed at this film festival dedicated to comedies. On the go for several years now, the competition invites professional submissions from across the globe as well as showcasing works by film students. Directors, actors and critics also take part in thought-provoking discussions and debates.

All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.

7 days forecast

Climate & best time to visit Romania

Romania is a great year-round tourist destination. The best times to visit in terms of climate are the end of April to the beginning of July and from end of August to the end of October as temperatures are mild and pleasant. Summers can be hot especially in Southern Romania, including Bucharest, but along the Black Sea Coast, sea breezes offer moderate temperatures. Winters are coldest in the Carpathian Mountains where there is snow from December through to April. Snow also falls throughout most of the country.

The ski season in Romania runs from December to March, although high resorts such as Stana de Vale often remain open until late April. Prices are cheaper at the beginning and the end of the season, with Christmas often the busiest time.

On the Black Sea Coast, tourism reaches its height between June and August and temperatures during the summer months can reach a sizzling 40°C. Look for deals in May and September, when the weather is still balmy but the season isn’t yet in full swing.

Other seasonal activities include bird-watching (from mid-April to mid-May in the Danube Delta) and wine-tasting, which focuses around a series of festivals in September and October.

Flight and accommodation

Phone calls & Internet

Telephone Country code: +40

Mobile telephony and Internet Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

Flight and accommodation

Shopping in Cluj-Napoca

Key Areas

Shopping in Cluj-Napoca is centred on the old city, particularly around the Piaţa Mihai Viteazul and Piaţa Unirii and along Bulevardul Eroilor, but there are some interesting boutiques dotted around the university quarter too.

Markets

Several bustling markets in Cluj-Napoca sell local produce and Transylvanian delicacies; the farmers’ market at Piaţa Mihai Viteazul attracts plenty of local stallholders every second Saturday.

Shopping Centres

Cluj-Napoca has a handful of modern malls on the outskirts, full of local and international brands. The Polus Centre on Strada Avram Iancu and the Iulius Mall on Strada Alexandru Vaida Voievod have the best selection of stores and franchises.

Flight and accommodation

Traveller etiquette

Social Conventions

A handshake is the most common form of greeting, but Romanian men may kiss a woman’s hand when being introduced. Mr or Mrs should be used when greeting someone for the first time. Visitors should follow normal European courtesies on social occasions. Dress tends to be rather conservative but casual wear is suitable. Beachwear should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. If visiting a home, a small wrapped gift should be given to the host, such as flowers or chocolates (to women only), wine or liquor. Flowers should be given as a gift in odd numbers only. Many Romanians are smokers and gifts of Western cigarettes are greatly appreciated.

Other well-appreciated gifts include toiletries.

Photography

Military installations should not be photographed. Some tourist attractions require visitors to pay a fee (sometimes hefty) for taking photographs.

Smoking

The Romanian government bans smoking in every public place, but, as in many countries in Eastern Europe, smokers have little respect for non-smokers and for smoking laws. Smoking is forbidden on planes, on buses and on some trains. Luxury hotels have designated no-smoking floors but very few restaurants have no-smoking sections.

Flight and accommodation

Health

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe, may cause abdominal upsets; bottled water is available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other Risks

Hepatitis C and tuberculosis occur and hepatitis B is endemic. Stray dogs may carry the tick-borne African typhus disease and rabies is also present. If bitten, seek medical advice without delay. There have been confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in the Danube Delta, Transylvania and Bucharest. The Romanian authorities have taken measures to contain the outbreaks and no human infections or deaths have been reported. In 2012, several cases of the West Nile Virus were reported by the Romanian National Institute of Health, and travellers to the Danube Delta are recommended to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers and to apply insect repellent.

Flight and accommodation

Visa & Immigration

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.